Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out

AM: That’s not really what it means, its like the assumption of heterosexuality which
happens in society as we all know [//] and it happens a lot in schools, so you guys as as L,
G, B, or T would have to say, come out and say well actually I’m gay, I’m lesbian, or
people would look at you and assume you are gay and lesbian from signals…
U: {It’s a bit ridiculous because you don’t get people coming out as straight…
AM: {exactly}
U: …people should force people to come out as straight!
V: What would you do if you found out your child was straight?!
V: That would make me laugh!
AM: Yeah, yeah, Tanya?
T: I was like, all the way through year nine cos I just I just had my hair cut really short it
was like a lot shorter than this it were like two inches and spiky and everything, so
everybody just assumed that I was gay and I went up to my, I went up to my deputy head
who was Mr Roach and he were like you don’t look like a lesbian, you don’t, just cos
you’ve got your tongue pieced and you got really short hair. I were like yeah, he went I
think you look quite smart actually, but are you a lesbian? I were like yeah and he just
started like helping me out a lot if anybody like bullied me cos of it, he just, they like get
expelled straight away, so I was quite happy.
AM: So you did eventually get some help from your teachers?
T: Yeah but he’s left now.
AM: Oh no! Did people find, or do people find that at school there are certain teachers
that are more supportive?
V: Yes.
T: My nurses were…
V: {I was outed}
T: …I went up to her and I told her, like and I told her I was having a load of problems
right, cos I was ill and she were like right don’t go near any guys right, don’t its not safe
for you at the minute. I went there’s there’s no worry about that Miss there’s none and
she were like well I’m just telling you for your safety don’t go near any guys, I went no
Miss there’s like zero chance that I actually will and she went oh, ohhhhh, so well guys,
girls don’t go near any of um, well its fine with me everybody’s mixed up in this jiggyjungle
together, I were like [//] its alright though she rode a triumph.
AM: Ok, Becky. No?